In the annals of Petersburg's history, the story of Detective J. Peyton Stewart's end is a somber chapter. A 57-year-old veteran of the Petersburg Police Department with two decades of service, his life was cut short on a Tuesday, the 24th of May, 1927. On that day, Detective Stewart was on duty in the New Market district of the city, where he observed two brothers loitering near Halifax Street.
As a law enforcement officer, he approached the individuals to investigate their suspicious presence. A brief struggle ensued, leading Detective Stewart to attempt an arrest of one of the brothers. In a sudden and violent turn of events, the other brother produced a firearm and shot the detective, inflicting a mortal wound. The gunfire also struck and injured a bystander who was nearby at the time.
The two brothers responsible for the death of Detective Stewart were apprehended. Following their capture, they were brought to justice for the murder of the dedicated officer and the wounding of an innocent citizen. The legal process culminated in both brothers being sentenced to death for their crimes. In May of 1928, nearly a year after the fatal shooting, the sentences were carried out, and both men were executed for their roles in the tragic death of Detective J. Peyton Stewart.
